Level



L. B. RIES Feb. 16,1954

LEVEL Filed March 51, 1952 4 lNvEN'roR Leu/1.5 B T7568 ATTO R N EYS Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES iTeEN'l OFFICE `f, Claims.

v'Thisinvention relates to aflevel of the typeused bycarpenters; brick layers-and other artisans for determining whethera ystructure or article :being built-or made is level orar surface thereof is accurately disposed Aat a .predetermined angle vor pitch.

More specifically lthe level is of the, type'whereinra-bar or elongatedbody is .formed with a 'transverseopening :intermediateits length in which is mounted a transparent container visible from either side of the bar` and partially "fllledwth liquidiwhich flows freely inthe container or gauge member and cooperating `with scale markings are rangedinci-rcular paths concentric with opposite side faces of the .container .for indicating the angular disposition of a surface upon which vthe level vrests.

Such levels have vnot ybeenioundl satisfactory due to the `fact that the liquid container is :liable to slip andturn-out of its proper :position and it is,y thereforevone object oi `the present invention toprovide-a level having a `container yor glass of improved formation which is Amounted in the bar oribody of the level :inan improved manner and thereby '-rmly anchored against turning 'movee ments out of its proper position.

'An-other object -of the invention isi to provide the lliquid holding container or 'glass vwithinproved means for. cushioning the container against damage by-shocks if the level. -Lisv fdrcpped.

-Another yobject yof the' invention'zis to so form the anchoring member and soA apply thelcushion ing member that Athe anchors will hold thecush inningI member about the containerand `prevent it'from slipping out of place about the container.

AAnother'object of- .the :inventionis to `.provide the container or glasswith `improved anchoring members of4 such shape that the recessesto ure ceive the same may be very easily-found inf the levelibody yin spaced-relation #to each other cir cumierentially of the glass-'receiving opening or socket'fandf'the anchoring members Avery-easily pressed 'into the .recesses while fitting the` containerintotheopening.

'.fAnother fobiectof the invention is" to so' form the glassereceiving'opening .orssocket-'thatf after the 'f glass has been fitted' therein, transparent discs serving as .dirt shields may be ttedlinto enlarged-ends of thesocketagainstshoulders vwhere the'discsareirmly held by puttywhich may be easilyremoved vif a discis brokenand a new disc applied. I

klWith Atheseaand :other'zobects nview; the im.. prvedf-levelconsists.oran:improvedfconstructon and' varrangement ofy parts; land practicaiembQd-i.

2 ment 4of which is illustratedin the. accompany.l ing` drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the `improved level.

Figure 2 is a'transverse sectional :viewitaken alongl the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3l is a fragmentary View Ylookirieatene side of the levelwith the glass plate shielding `the gua-se removed.

Figure 4 is a perspectiveview of'the guage mounted in the :bar of the level.

`The body or bar` l of this `improved :level .may be formed of wood, metal or any .other-suitable material and its ends areV shielded by: the usual plates A2 secured by screws 3. -Midwavritsilength thefbar is formed with acircular opening :It which extends transverselythrough the `bar kthe lentire thickness thereof and. midway lits' ends' isy of re duced diameter in'order to :form a .circmrnferentially extendingshoulder 5 having dat side faces constituting ledges. *These ledges orside faces are of suiicient. width yto effectively serve-as'abutment surfaces and vthrough the shoulder are formed recesses' 5 which are snaced from each other equal distances circumerentially--ofithe shoulder and are V-shaped or triangular as shown inrv Figure `3 and extend the full Width-".-of-Ithe ledges. Since the recesses are trianguiar,"they may be cut Aby means of a rectangular cutter `having itscutting end disposed againsta side faceef the shoulder .with a corner bearing againsta `portion of the angular Wall of the opening.

'The guage member which lis shown in Figures and indicated in general by the numerallF Eisiittecl into the openingiit through either end thereof and when 'installed is disposed in concentric relation to the shoulder 5. This guage member consists-of a 'hollow Vcontainer 8 ywhich is circular and may be formed of plastic, glass or any othersuitab'le transparent material. The chamber 9 of this container Ais quite narrow, as shown in FigureZ, and conforms to the circular shape of the container. A liquid vI U, which is preferably mercury, is poured into the chamber S through .a 'filling opening which is thensealedasshown at Si intieme' 2. Referring to this gure and to other gures of the drawing, Ait will be Vseen that tnevolumc-of the liquid issuch that it half fills thezohamber. Therefore, ywhen the :indicator or guage member is installed in the opening and thebarsct at rest upona level surface, the atupper surfacecf `this liquid material Will-extendalong the-horizontal diameterof the container, and'asethevmercuri' may flow `freely :inthe chambery the upper Vsurface of this liquid will at all times remain in the horizontal position.

Lugs I2 which are triangular when viewed in end elevation or in cross section are formed integral with the container and project radially from the peripheral edge face of the container in such spaced relation to each other circumferentially thereof that when the container is fitted into the opening in the bar, the lugs t into the triangular recesses 6'. These lugs I2 are solid so that they will not be easily broken and are of such length that they extend entirely across the circumferentially extending edge face of the container and have their end faces flush with opposite side faces of the container.

Before the gauge member or container is installed, a rubber band I3 is tted about the container circumferentially thereof. The rubber band is of a width of the peripheral edge face of the container and is of such dimensions that it must be expanded in order to t it about the container circumferentially thereof. In spaced relation to each other, the band is formed with outstanding V-shaped portions i3 which are of such dimensions that they are disposed in straddling close fitting engagement with the lugs I'2. Portions of the band between its V-shaped portions have close tting engagement with the portions of the peripheral surface of the container between the lugs I2. The container and the rubber band may, therefore, be fitted into the central portion of the opening I and the container will be in concentric relation to the shoulder 5. Since the rubber band is stretched somewhat when applied to the container, it has frictional binding engagement with the container as well as with the annular surface of the shoulder. In addition, portions of the rubber band have frictional gripping engagement with the side faces of the lugs and walls of the triangular recesses into which the lugs fit. The band may be iixedly secured to the lugs and portions of the container between the lugs by an adhesive, or in any other desired mannerl and thus be prevented from slipping transversely out of its proper position about the container while pressing the container into the opening. rIhe rubber band serves very effectively as a shock absorber to prevent damage to the container in case the level should be dropped. In addition,

the rubber band will assist in preventing movements of the container circumferentially thereof and the zero marks I4 of the scales formed upon opposite side faces of the container will be maintained in a horizontal plane when the level is resting upon a level surface. While it has been stated that the rubber band is circular and formed with circumferentially spaced V-shaped projections to straddle the triangular lugs, it will be understood that the rubber band may be formed without the V-shaped projections. In such case, the band is tted about the container with portions contacting ridges of the lugs and portions pressed inwardly against the peripheral surface of the container between the lugs while inserting the container into the opening.

The scale markings follow a circular path concentric with the center of the container and have their 90 marks I5 at opposite ends of the vertical diameter of the container. All of the guage markings extend radially of the side faces of the container between the horizontal diameter having zero marks at its ends and the vertical di ameter having the 90 4marks. at its ends.,y and it will be understood that any number or such scale markings may be provided between the zero marks and the 90 marks which will allow the guage to be accurately read. The scale markings are coated with luminous paint so that they may be clearly seen.

The level upper surface of the mercury extends horizontally between the zero marks when the bar is resting upon a level surface, and when the bar is tilted longitudinally, the position of the upper surface of the mercury relative to the scale markings above or below the zero marks will accurately indicate the angular disposition of the surface upon which the bar rests.

In order to seal the guage, there have been provided transparent discs I9 which may be formed of glass, plastic or any other suitable material. These discs or seals are of a diameter adapting them to t snugly within the end portions of the opening 4, and after they have been inserted, they are thrust inwardly until they have flat contacting engagement with the side facesv of the ledges 6 of the shoulder E and with the flat end faces of the lugs I2. In addition, the discs bear against side edges of the rubber band and are cushioned against shocks. Putty I1 is then applied, as shown in Figure 2, and serves to firmly hold the discs in place as well as serving as seals to prevent water or dust from working inwardly around marginal edges of the discs and interfering With a clear view of the scale markings and the liquid. In case the discs should be broken, it is merely necessary to remove the putty and new discs may be installed and putty again applied to hold them in place.

What I claim is:

l. A level comprising a bar formed with a transversely extending circular opening abruptly reduced in diameter midway its length and thereby providing an annular shoulder spaced equal distances from opposite ends of the opening, saidv shoulder having flat side faces constituting circular ledges and also having a transversely flat annular edge face, the shoulder being formed with triangular recesses spaced from each other equal distances circumferentially of the shoulder, said recesses extending the full width and thickness of the shoulder and tapered outwardly and having flat wal'ls intersecting at the annular wall of the opening, a gauge consisting of a circular transparent container fitting into the reduced portion of said opening and formed with a narrow circular chamber concentric with the container, said container being of the same thickness as said shoulder and having nat side faces flush with the ledges at opposite sides of the shoulder, each of the said side faces of said container bearing scale markings arranged in a circular path concentric with the container and having zero marks at opposite ends of a horizontal diameter of the container and marks at ends of a vertical diameter of the container, lugs projecting radially from said container and fit-- shaped portions-straddling the lugs and confined:

in the recesses by the lugs and other portions in close fitting contacting engagement with arcuate portions of the peripheral edge face of the container between the lugs having gripping engagement with the container and confronting portions of the annular wall of the opening, liquid in the chamber of said container half l'ling the same and having a flat horizontally disposed upper surface extending between the zero marks of the scales when the bar is resting upon a horizontally extending level surface, the liquid being freely movable in the chamber of the container and cooperating with the scale marking to indicate angular positions of the bar and a surface upon which the bar rests, transparent discs fitting snugly in end portions of the openings and having flat contacting engagement with the ledges and ends of the lugs and side edges of the rubber band, and putty in opposite end portions of said opening extending circumferentially therein and overlying marginal portions of the discs to hold the discs firmly in place and form tight seals about marginal edges of the discs.

2. A level comprising a bar formed midway its length with a transverse circular opening i". abruptly reduced in diameter in spaced relation 1 to opposite sides of the bar and thereby providing an annular shoulder about the opening hav ing iiat side faces constituting annular ledges spaced equal distances from opposite ends of the spaced V-A Ill with and extending entirely across its marginal edge face and conforming to the taper of said recesses and fitting into the said recesses, said container having flat side faces flush with opposite side faces of said shoulder and provided with circumferentially spaced scale markings progressing from zero at opposite ends of a horizontal diameter of the container to 90 at opposite ends of a vertical diameter of the container, liquid in said container movable freelyv therein circumferentially of the gauge and having a iiat upper surface cooperating with the scale markings to indicate angular disposition of the level, an elastic band tting about said container circumferentially thereof and having positions straddling the lugs 'within the recesses and other portions in at contacting engagement with portions of the marginal face of the container between the lugs and constituting a cushioning member, transparent discs in end portions of the opening having inner side .faces in flat contacting engagement with the ledges and opposite sides of the container and its lugs and serving to prevent movement of the container out of its position within the reduced portion of the opening, and securing means for said transparent discs.

LEWIS B. RIES.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 777,641 Knighton Dec. 13, 1904 1,823,524 Beecher et al. Sept. 15, 1931 2,487,245 Hubbard Nov. 8, 1949 2,514,500 Kroener Ju'ly 11, 1950 

